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Tuesday 14th February 2012

Top News
The Obama administration's 2013 budget proposal, released on Monday, includes a fee of $100 per flight for some general aviation aircraft, which drew a quick response from GA advocacy groups. The proposal exempts all piston aircraft, military and public aircraft, air ambulances, aircraft operating outside controlled airspace, and flights that begin and end in Canada. Nonetheless, "AOPA finds little solace [in the piston exemption]," said AOPA President Craig Fuller. "In nations where user fees have been introduced, the fees have grown."
Feb 14, 1:56am UTC

More News
The detailed historical record of the dawn of U.S. civil aviation will remain intact and accessible by the public thanks to a 15-year effort by a Minnesota antique aircraft enthusiast.
Feb 13, 12:32am UTC
A clean-sheet design from Bell Helicopter is the highlight announcement so far at Heli-Expo in Dallas. The annual show got under way in Dallas on Saturday and on Sunday Bell unveiled the mockup of its much-anticipated 525 Relentless, a 16-passenger aircraft the company hopes will define the "super medium" category.
Feb 13, 2:59am UTC
A research team at the University of Pennsylvania has successfully demonstrated close formation work among large networked groups of autonomous vehicles, and the results are visually captivating.
Feb 10, 11:41pm UTC
Investigators have found that the crew of a QantasLink Boeing 717 with roughly 100 passengers experienced stick shaker activation during a 2010 flight on two of three approaches, because of pilot error prior to takeoff.
Feb 9, 5:48pm UTC
The government announced Wednesday that "further investment cannot be justified at this time" to help LightSquared gain approval for its wireless broadband system and new GPS standards may be coming, Inside GNSS reported.
Feb 8, 11:37pm UTC
AOPA and EAA are on track to submit a request to the FAA within the next one to two months, asking the agency to allow more pilots to fly without a medical certificate, AOPA said this week.
Feb 8, 3:46am UTC
 
RunwayFinder, the chart and airport information website that was embroiled in legal action with FlightPrep a year ago, is closing.
Feb 10, 5:48pm UTC
Melodie Homer, widow of Flight 93 co-pilot LeRoy W. Homer Jr. has released the book, "From Where I Stand: Flight 93 Pilot's Widow Sets the Record Straight" and is donating all proceeds.
Feb 11, 12:52am UTC
Center for Environmental Health (CEH) director of research, Caroline Cox, told AVweb Thursday that aviation interests and CEH have started negotiations that could lead to an out of court settlement regarding the use of leaded avgas in California.
Feb 10, 2:51am UTC
There's only one way to prove that an airplane will fly for a long time but the thought of spending 19 hours flying aimlessly got Boeing engineers channeling their artistic sides through FlightAware.
Feb 10, 7:19pm UTC
Long term funding has finally returned to the FAA after a half-decade hiatus, and the bill will fund system upgrades, initiate a pathway for domestic drone use, and also address a key sticking point -- rules that affect pilot unions.
Feb 9, 1:04am UTC

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Features & Columns

Letter of the Week: Where's Our Trophy?

Regarding the "Question of the Week": How about a trophy for the average aviator? You know, the guys who drive 20-year-old cars so they can afford a 40-year-old airplane; who put up with ridiculous security regulations, crippling fuel prices, a progressively dumber society that doesn't understand aviation, and a President who castigates them for being "elite."

These are the guys who give Young Eagles rides, take cancer patients to distant cities for life-saving treatments, and fly supplies into storm-ravaged Caribbean islands. They are the lifeblood of American general aviation. Where is their trophy?

Glenn Juber

Click through to read the rest of this week's letters.

Brainteasers It's not just how well you fly that makes you a great pilot. How good you look in flight also matters. Which airplane do you think is the most beautiful?

Take the quiz.
Finally joining the Air Force's Strategic Air Command, Dick Taylor and his wife move to Florida, and Dick begins training in air-refueling techniques in the KC-97 Stratotanker.
 
This week's winning photo comes from Craig Morris of Hoveton, Norfolk (U.K.). Click here for the rest of this week's submissions.
This week's winning photo comes from Dan Gay of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk (UK). Click here for the rest of this week's submissions.
This week's winning photo comes from Daniel Valovich of Hot Springs, AR. Click here for the rest of this week's submissions.
This week's winning photo comes from Vincent Calio of Oxford, CT. Click here for the rest of this week's submissions.

FULL INDEX OF FEATURES Browse Our Features Archive
FULL INDEX OF COLUMNS Browse Our Columns Archive

Podcasts and Video
podcasts sponsored by Bose Corporation
AVweb's Glenn Pew speaks with director of research for the Center for Environmental Health Caroline Cox about developments in the case that has targeted more than a dozen companies at 25 California airports over the use of leaded aviation fuels in the state.
The new FAA reauthorization includes language to integrate unmanned aerial systems into the national airspace system. Tim Adelman is a Washington attorney heavily involved in the Department of Justice's program to get small UAVs in the hands of more than 17,000 police and sheriff's departments that would dearly love to have them. He spoke with AVweb's Russ Niles.
As the FAA works on rulemaking to allow the integration of unmanned aerial systems into the national airspace system, there are signs that the agency has significantly ramped up the safety requirements for this brand-new aviation sector. Aviation consultant Gary Church discussed the issues and their potential effect with AVweb's Russ Niles.
When a Mooney pilot got into trouble last December, stuck above the clouds and running out of fuel, controllers at the Seattle tracon helped him to a safe landing. In this podcast, AVweb's Mary Grady takes you through the audio tape of the event, which won the controllers an Archie League Award this week from NATCA.
Jeff Skiles, known as the first officer for the "Miracle on the Hudson" flight, served as co-chair of EAA's Young Eagles program for a couple of years, and now he's signed on with EAA as vice president of chapters and youth education. He spoke with AVweb's Mary Grady about the new Eagle Flight program for adults, some expanded youth programs in the works, and EAA's global future.
 
A practical flying car with everyman usability has so far eluded the public, but we may have already been introduced to a design that could lead to a breakthrough. Some of the major challenges of producing a point-to-point simple and safe to operate vehicle are technological in nature. Autonomous navigation (enter the destination, press a button, and allow the vehicle to navigate, communicate with, and autonomously avoid other aircraft) may be one key to safely organizing masses of flying vehicles in the same airspace. And as society progresses, the gap between the dream and reality may be shrinking.
There's a new eye in the sky over Tulsa these days, and it's keeping an eye on things for the local sheriff's office for about 10 percent of the cost of a helicopter. AVweb's Russ Niles spoke with Roger Crow of Echo Flight Resources about the Flight Design CTLE law-enforcement platform based on a light sport aircraft.

FULL INDEX OF PODCASTS Find All Podcasts Of Interest

AVwebBiz: AVweb's Business Aviation Newsletter
Delivered every Wednesday morning, AVwebBiz focuses on the companies, the products and the industry leaders that make headlines in the business aviation industry, making it a must-read.

Add AVwebBiz to your free subscriptions today by clicking here and choosing "Update E-mail Subscriptions."
Jan 1, 10:14pm UTC

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Who's Where
Heidi WilliamsCraig Spence
Heidi Williams is the new Vice President of Air Traffic Services and Modernization. Craig Spence is Vice President of Operations and International Affairs.

Feb 8, 6:26am UTC

FULL INDEX OF WHO'S WHERE STORIES Find Past Who's Where Stories Of Interest

VIDEO


Where's My Flying Car?

No video? Direct link here.
Flying the Renegade Falcon LSA

No video? Direct link here.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Which accomplishment deserves this year's Collier trophy?

Who do you like for aviation's most prestigious prize for, as the Collier folks say, "the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America, with respect to improving the performance, efficiency, and safety of air or space vehicles, the value of which has been thoroughly demonstrated by actual use during the preceding year"?


Share your Opinion »

PILOT RESOURCES

FBO OF THE WEEK

Our latest "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to the FBO at Shelby County Airport (KEET) in Alabaster, Alabama.

AVweb reader Joe Barnhart shared his recent experience there:

My daughter and grandkids recently moved to Birmingham, Alabama. On our first trip to visit, I chose Shelby County Airport because of the low fuel price and the relative proximity to my daughter's home. Upon arrival, not only did I find the best fuel price in the Birmingham area but a first-class airport and FBO facility. On top of that, everyone was as friendly as I've ever encountered. Not only did the FBO bring a tug to park my Bellanca Viking; they put it under a covered tie-down at absolutley no charge! I'll definitely be back.

Keep those nominations coming. For complete contest rules, click here.

AVweb is actively seeking out the best FBOs in the country and another one, submitted by you, will be spotlighted here next Monday!

Nominate an FBO »

SHORT FINAL...

Long time ago!

Army Caribou:
"Raleigh Durham Tower, Army 73080 in position, runway 23, ready for take-off. Wait a minute, Tower — there is a turtle crossing the runway!"

Tower:
"Army 080, hold for crossing turtle; advise when clear."

Army 080 (several minutes later) :
"Raleigh Tower, turtle has cleared runway!"

Tower:
"Army 080, winds 240 at 6; cleared for take-off, runway 23. Use caution. Wake turbulence from departing terrapin."

Scott McMillan
via e-mail

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